{{short description|Japanese cutlery manufacturer}} {{Infobox company | name = GLOBAL | logo = Global Logo Chromova 18.jpg | type = Private Company | industry = Kitchenware | genre = | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | founded = {{Start date and age|1985}} | founder = | defunct = | location = | hq_location_city = Tsubame | num_locations = | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Minoru Tsuchida, Komin Yamada, Yuzo Watanabe | products = Kitchen knives, accessories | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = Yoshida Metal Industry | parent = | divisions = | subsidiaries = | website = {{URL|https://global-knife.com/en/}} | footnotes = | hq_location_country = Japan | market cap = }}

thumb|Set of GLOBAL knives in holding block '''GLOBAL''' is a Japanese brand of kitchen knives and accessory tools owned and manufactured by the Yoshikin factory of Japan (also known as the Yoshida Metal Industry Co. Ltd<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalknives.uk/our-story|title=About Global|website=GLOBAL Knives UK|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13|archive-date=2020-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213200721/https://globalknives.uk/our-story|url-status=live}}</ref>). The Yoshikin Factory is owned by the Watanabe family and located in Tsubame, Japan.

== History == Yoshida Metal Industry Co. Ltd. was established in 1954 as a western tableware manufacturer in Niigata prefecture, producing hollow handled table knives for Western markets. In 1960 Yoshikin introduced the Bunmei series of knives,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yoshikin.co.jp/en/about-us/|title=YOSHIKIN|website=www.yoshikin.co.jp|language=en-US|access-date=2016-02-25|archive-date=2016-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302194449/https://www.yoshikin.co.jp/en/about-us/|url-status=live}}</ref> traditional Japanese-looking knives that used a new alloy steel, able to be sharpened like carbon steel, but with a mixture of molybdenum and vanadium that made the steel more resistant to rust (now known colloquially as Japanese steel).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalknives.uk/about/#craft|title=About Global Knives|website=GLOBAL Knives|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-02|archive-date=2016-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153456/http://globalknives.uk/about/#craft|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1983, Yoshikin hired a Japanese industrial designer, Komin Yamada, to create a knife design that combined these two manufacturing techniques.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://global-knife.com/global/|title=Tradition {{!}} GLOBALGLOBAL|website=global-knife.com|access-date=2016-02-25|archive-date=2016-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117170238/http://global-knife.com/global/|url-status=dead}}</ref> GLOBAL began its international expansion under Yuzo Watanabe in Japan in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yoshikin.co.jp/w/index.html|title=YOSHIKIN &#124; GLOBAL KNIFE Official WEB site|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330163226/http://www.yoshikin.co.jp/w/index.html|archive-date=March 30, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2012}}</ref><ref name="arti_Revo2">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-08-fo-knifelead8-story.html|title=Revolution in the kitchen|author=Parsons, Russ|date=2004-12-08|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2015-09-15|archive-date=2015-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017183508/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/dec/08/food/fo-knifelead8|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, the G Series knives were placed #46 on the Japanesque Modern Committee listing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japanesque-modern.org/english/topics/100sen_products/j046.html|title=Japanesque Modern Archives -"Japanesque Modern Collection"|publisher=Tepia-infocompass.jp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213071714/http://www.japanesque-modern.org/english/topics/100sen_products/j046.html|archive-date=2007-12-13|access-date=2010-12-11}} [http://www.tepia-infocompass.jp/japanesque-modern/english/topics/100sen_products/j046.html Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722125422/http://www.tepia-infocompass.jp/japanesque-modern/english/topics/100sen_products/j046.html |date=2011-07-22 }}</ref><ref name="chow_Shun2">{{cite web|url=http://www.chowhound.com/post/shun-global-knives-brand-769337|title=Shun or Global knives? Which brand do you like?|author=Chemicalkinetics|work=Chowhound|date=March 2011|access-date=2015-09-15|archive-date=2015-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011040700/http://www.chowhound.com/post/shun-global-knives-brand-769337|url-status=live}}</ref> In the years since GLOBAL has continued to come out with new lines of knives including the SAI line, the UKON line and most recently the GLOBAL NI line in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hartsofstur.com/blog/global-knives-classic-vs-ni/|title=Global Knives - differences between Classic & Ni ranges {{!}} Harts of Stur|website=www.hartsofstur.com|access-date=2020-02-13|archive-date=2020-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214003846/https://www.hartsofstur.com/blog/global-knives-classic-vs-ni/|url-status=live}}</ref> Currently, the GLOBAL NI line is the most recent line of knives released for sale to the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bladeadvisor.com/global-knives-review/|title=The Best Global Knives Review: Is the Unique Design Practical?|date=2019-11-26|website=Blade Advisor|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-14|archive-date=2020-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214003846/https://bladeadvisor.com/global-knives-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Features == Compared to conventional European knives such as J. A. Henckels or Wüsthof, GLOBAL knives are made from a significantly harder alloy of steel and use a thinner blade. In addition, the cutting edge of the blades are ground at a more shallow 15° angle, which produces a sharper knife that also hold its edge for longer and allows for more accurate work. The one drawback of this design however is that when the blade does dull it take longer to regain that same quality of edge through sharpening.<ref name="bakery2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.village-bakery.com/best-global-knives/|title=5 Best Global Knife Reviews - Updated 2020 (A Must Read!)|date=31 January 2019|access-date=1 February 2019|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215113319/https://www.village-bakery.com/best-global-knives/|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of this, the manufacturer recommends using whetstones and ceramic sharpening rods as opposed to the European sharpening steel.

GLOBAL knives have black dimples on the handle and on one model of their knife block. The black dimples found on the handle serve mainly an aesthetic purpose however are also intended to increase the amount of grip the user is able to get on the knife.<ref name=":0" />

The company subsequently introduced specialized knife designs, including a tomato knife and a crab/lobster knife. They also make eating utensils.

GLOBAL knives have been used by professional chefs including Anthony Bourdain, Ludo Lefebvre and Michel Roux Jr.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/04/cnn-underscored/professional-kitchen-tools-shop/index.html|title=9 kitchen tools the pros swear by, from Anthony Bourdain to Rachael Ray|last=Ibrahim|first=Banu|date=2018-04-04|website=CNN Underscored|language=en|access-date=2020-02-14|archive-date=2020-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214060915/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/04/cnn-underscored/professional-kitchen-tools-shop/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Construction == thumb|The welding point on a GLOBAL knife that attaches the handle and blade|alt= thumb|Five knives from the GLOBAL (cutlery) range thumb|A GLOBAL 35th Anniversary Classic Chef's Knife Although GLOBAL Knives appear to be one seamless piece of steel they actually consist of three different pieces that have all been carefully crafted together to give a one piece appearance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalcutleryusa.com/mr-global|title=Mr GLOBAL - Mino Tsuchida - Global Cutlery USA - Global Cutlery USA|website=www.globalcutleryusa.com|access-date=2020-01-31|archive-date=2020-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131071438/https://www.globalcutleryusa.com/mr-global|url-status=live}}</ref> The three pieces that make up the knife are first stamped out of a sheet of CROMOVA 18 steel, the two pieces of the handle are then TIG welded together.<ref name="bakery2" /><ref name=":0" /> The hollow handle is then injected with fine sand to add weight and balance to the knife.<ref name=":0" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|http://global-knife.com/}} *[https://globalknives.uk/ Official website in the United Kingdom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510221434/https://globalknives.uk/ |date=2020-05-10 }} {{Knives}}

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1985 Category:Japanese companies established in 1985 Category:Companies based in Niigata Prefecture Category:Kitchen knife brands Category:Japanese brands Category:Knife manufacturing companies Category:Tsubame, Niigata